TROTTING Recruit Should Arouse Interest At Addington

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27734, 11 August 1955, Page 4

TROTTING Recruit Should Arouse Interest At Addington

Recruit, one ot thg outstanding trotters of last season, will add considerable interest to the main races for horses of his gait at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Grand National meeting on August 20 and 28.

The Light Brigade gelding will ; probably parade at trials to be held today at Addington by the Canterbury Owners* and Breeders’ Association. He has been entered for the j second heat of the 3min 29sec class pace, in which he will meet several pacers, including Rosiere and Surf,man, and other trotters in Demimonde and Slipstream. Recruit is one of four members oi M. Holmes’s team with engagements at Addington, the others being Aula, Dancing Years, and Secure. Recruit had his first race last season at Oamaru in October and by the end of the season he had recorded eight wins and one placing from 11 starts. He was placed in one other race, but was disqualified for galloping short of the post. Recruit has tre-i mendous speed and stamina, and as e is now only a six-year-old, furher improvement can be expected of iim. Recruit will start from 48 yards n the Christchurch Handicap on the Irst day at Addington, and, if he is nywhere near the fine form he howed last season, he should not be roubled to extend his record. Aula, the winner of two races when rained at Nightcaps by her owner, 3. Rushton, failed to win a race n three starts for Holmes towards the jnd of last leason, although she vas twice placed. She finished second o Unite in the Fendalton Handi•ap at the Canterbury Park winter neeting, and a week later at Ashjurton, she lost narrowly to Dunvegan n the Durbar Handicap. A six-year-old mare by Dillon Hall rom a smart winner in Pleasant Guy, >he is a sister to Affable, Amiable, ind Jocund. She may not reach the sest classes, but Holmes should not ind it hard to place her to advantage n her present class. Smart Sprinter No attempt is being made at present to qualify Dancing Years, which is on a 4min 26sec mark for two niles, for the next New Zealand Trotting Cup. The Dillon Hall geldng has been entered for the sprint races at the Addington meeting, and, if forward enough, he should more than pay his way if the track is firm.. Dancing Years showed useful form last season when he gained two wins and 10 placings from 21 starts. His srst win was at the Canterbury Park neeting on January 3, when he beat] Stadium Chief and Brave Company in the Mason Handicap. His other win was at Forbury Park in May, when he beat Lassoloc and Starbeam in the Flying Handicap. Dancing Years is particularly smart over sprint and middle distances, and he should have numerous opportunities to show his ability in the next few months. Secure, like Recruit, started last season in maiden company. He had 25 starts for seven wins, and nine placings. Raced by Mr C. L. Rhodes, who trained him for some of his early wins, Secure was not an easy horse to drive in his races, and had to be restrained behind the leaders until the last possible moment to make his claim. He recorded some outstanding performances, and if he trains on satisfactorily, he should be a useful winner this spring. Secure is a five-year-old stallion by Grattan Loyal from Safety Pin, and he is a member of the same successful family as the New Zealand Cup winner, Adorian, and other good winners.

Holmes is also working Adan and Lauder Lady. Adan, a brother to Dancing Years, had 12 starts last season for three wins and five placings. He did not have the best of luck in some of his races, or his record would have been much improved. Adan is a more than useful sprinter and the first time he is handily placed in a short race, he

should go close to winning his first race for the season. Lauder Lady, a big-striding sister, to Lauder Lass, is being prepared for early maiden events. The U. Scatfr mare has more speed than most others in her class, but she is field shy and far from reliable in her races. With more experience, she should soon graduate from maiden class. At New Brighton Dillon d’Oro, which gained one win from six starts last season, is now being trained at New Brighton by L. C. Frost. The Dillon Hall gelding’s win was in the Harold Logan Handicap at Addington last November, when he finished on gamely under a hard drive to beat Brahman by half a neck after pacing the two miles in 4min 16 4-ssec. At that time, he was trained at Orari by R. S. Dixon, and was driven by Frost. Dillon d’Oro may have his first start for his new trainer at the N-w Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting at Addington next week. With L. J* Mhhoney Young Erin and Scottish Laird, which last season raced in the South Island, are now with L. J. Mahoney at Pukekohe. Mahoney is also training Jimmy Pride, which, with Young Erin, will represent him at the Thames Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Young Erin, a seven-year-old gelding by Young Bob from Erin’s Advance, won two races last season when trained at Oamaru by R. J. Cleave. He is a useful type of pacer, and should be a good winner at minor meetings in the Auckland district this season. Scottish Laird, which was formerly trained by C. M. Laing at Eiffelton, was a winner at Rangiora last March. The U. Scott pacer has a fair turn of speed, and Mahoney should not find it difficult to place him.